Public inquiry: Land Adjacent South Side Marlow Road and A404 Junction, Westhorpe Park, Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire (also known as Marlow Film Studios)
On 21 January 2025, the Planning Inspectorate started its Public Inquiry into the planning application for the construction of film studios in Marlow.
View the Inspector's programme to see the full schedule, including who was attending the inquiry to provide evidence, for examination and for cross-examination.
Planning application details
The details of the planning application are:
full planning permission for production space and supporting buildings for screen-based media and associated services/industries. The development of approximately 168,718 sqm GEA total floorspace comprising: sound stages, workshops, office accommodation, studio hub associated outdoor space such as backlots and unit bases; entrance structures and reception; security infrastructure, mobility hub; cafes; parking; bridge; incidental supporting buildings; associated infrastructure; public art; upgraded vehicular access onto Marlow Road; new cycle and pedestrian accesses; a new cultural/educational/recreational building; a new community building and associated landscaping, publicly accessible recreational land and ecological and environmental enhancements/habitat creation
On 8 October 2024, the Local Planning Authority was informed that although under the Town and Country Planning (Determination of Appeals by Appointed Persons) (Prescribed Classes) Regulations 1997, the appeal was to have been decided by an Inspector, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government considers that she should determine it herself.
Accordingly, in exercise of her powers under section 79 and paragraph 3 of Schedule 6 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the Secretary of State hereby directs that she shall determine this appeal instead of an Inspector. This means that instead of writing a decision, the Inspector will prepare a report and recommendation, which will be forwarded to the Secretary of State. The reason for this direction is that the appeal involves proposals for development of major importance having more than local significance, proposals which raise important or novel issues of development control and proposals for significant development in the Green Belt.
Details of the inquiry
The Secretary of State has given notice that their Inspector, K McDonald MSc, MRTPI, has been appointed to hold the Inquiry.
The Inquiry was set to commence on Tuesday 21 January 2025 at 10am and was anticipated to last for 17 days, but the duration was not fixed and depended on how the evidence emerged.
Planning application reference: 22/06443/FULEA
Planning appeal reference: 24/00061/REF
Planning Inspectorate reference: APP/K0425/W/24/3351904
Attending or watching the inquiry
The inquiry has now finished. It was held in High Wycombe and live-streamed online. The live streams were then be published on YouTube.
Watch the previous live streams
View the documents
Ensure you have viewed or downloaded copies of the core documents and inquiry documents you plan to refer to.
Some file sizes are large and may take longer to download.
View the core documents and inquiry documents.
You can view all other general correspondence and application-related documents on Public Access.
If you are having problems with the above link, visit the Public Access site and type the reference number 22/06443/FULEA.
Accessibility
If you have problems viewing the content of the documents, email [email protected] with ‘Marlow Film Studios Inquiry' in the subject line.